Weimar Constitution

Meant to have a system of checks and balances to prevent one-person power

A wide range of civil rights

Negatives

Democracy was a new idea in Germany

Proportional representation meant no party could get majority - weak coalition governments

Article 48 gave the president power to pass emergency decrees

Article 53 - power to appoint and dismiss chancellor

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The Treaty of Versailles - June 1919

Reparations £6.6 billion - added to $38 billion war debt + puhed Germany into depression. The government printed more money, leading to hyperinflation. Missing a payment led to the French occupation of the Ruhr in 1923.

Army limited to 100,000 men, no submarines, 6 ships, no air force - Angered the army and many went to join the Freikorps and later the SA. Led to increase support for Dolchstosstheorie - blaming the government, pacifists, left-wing, and Jews for signing the armistice.

War Guilt Clause - Germany forced to accept full responsibility, increased belief in Dolchstosstheorie, and added to humiliation.

Loss of key areas like Sarr under League of Nations and Rhineland demilitarised zone - made Germany feel vulnerable to attack. Added to Dolchstosstheorie, meant Germany lost key industrial areas and made economic recovery more difficult.

12% of population under foreign rule - added to anger and humiliation and later formed part of Hitler's foreign policy - unite all German speakers.

Political Challenges to Weimar

Revolt held by Rosa Luxemberg and Karl Liebknecht, wanted communist government like Russia, took over offices.

Weimar used Freikorps to crush the revolt under the Ebert-Groener pact. Three days of street fighting, both killed.

Kapp Putsch 1920

Inspired by Dolchstosstheorie - wanted to overthrow Weimar by force. Government buildings were seized in Berlin and Weimar fled.

Trade unions and the civil service refused to work under Kapp and Berlin ground to a halt. The revolt showed the faults of the Ebert-Groener pact and was the most serious challenge between 1919-23

Munich Putsch 1923

Attempt by the Nazis to seize power in Munich on the 8th and 9th November.

Not a real threat but gave Hitler public standing

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Hyperinflation

Inflation started in Germany during WW1, due to government printing more money in order to pay for the war. After failing to pay reparations the French occupied the Ruhr in January 1923. Weimar called for passive resistance and the workers went on strike - Weimar paid them by printing more money causing hyperinflation. By 1923 there were 663 billion notes in circulation.

Positively affected - people with mortgages could pay them off quickly, most wage earners were protected as their wage rose with inflation, and anyone with goods/property (farmers, landowners)

Negatively affected - people with savings, people on pensions, benefits or fixed incomes couldn't afford food, the unemployed.

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Golden Era - Evidence to show there was

1928 production levels exceeded those of 1913 - recovery

Berlin became the pleasure capital of Europe

Improvements in social welfare - e.g disability benefits

1927 compulsary unemployment insurance was introduced

Increase in number of cars

Increase in cinema attendance

Increase in popular music e.g. Jazz, swing

Increase in equality for women

Support for extremist parties declined and support for moderate parties increased

State subsidaries for local amenities

Investment in culture, film industry

Hourly wages rose in real terms 1924-30

Exports rose by 40% 1925-9

Foreign relations improved due to Locarno Pact 1925, Treaty of Berlin 1926, and Germany joining League of Nations 1926

Currency was stabilised - introduction of Rentenmark 1923

Passive Resistance ended 1923

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Golden Era - Evidence to show there wasn't

The Right Wing called Weimar decadent

Industrial growth started to slow from 1927

There was an agricultural recession from 1927

People were reluctant to save

Young Plan and Dawes Plan made Germany reliant on American loans

Still deep regional, class, and religious division in Germany

Proportional representation made it difficult to elect strong governments

Rural areas didn't benefit from new technology - 10% in rural areas had radio compared to 46% in towns.

Conservatives argued that Weimar was undermining German culture

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Stresemann

As Chancellor

September 1923 called off passive resistance in the Ruhr

November 1923 introduction of the Rentenmark based on a mortgage of all land and industry

As Foreign Minister

Dawes Plan 1925 - provided international loans for Germany

Locarno Pact 1925 - Germany accepted borders with France

League of Nations 1926 - invited to join

Treaty of Berlin 1926 - established good relations with Russia

Kellog-Briand Pact 1928 - 70 countries denounced use of war

Young Plan 1929 - timescale for reparations set at 58yrs and reduced payments by 75%